TV on Tap: A Second ‘Beauty & the Beast” Pilot, Bethenny Frankel’s Talk Show Gets a Trial Run and Nickelodeon Gets Soapy

There’s a double feature of Kathy Griffin with an interview on The Rosie Showand an appearance on tonight’s Whitney.

News

In Plain Sight has picked up some interesting guest-stars for its final season, booking appearances by Madchen Amick and Tia Carrere. Amick will play a big WITSEC boss with news for Marshall Mary and Marshall Marshall while Carrere will play Stan‘s dance instructor.

Yesterday’s announcements brought about a few interesting developments, including the news that Nickelodeon is adapting its first telenovela. Reach for a Star will air nightly over 80 episodes and is based on a popular 1990 Mexican series that spawned a movie remake and a sequel series that starred Ricky Martin. It should be interesting to see if this is any more successful than MyNetwork TV’s gay-inclusive telenovela remakes.

Meanwhile, NBC will be taking a bigger role on the next season of American Ninja Warrior, with the early rounds airing on G4 and NBC airing all the final rounds. More interestingly, the entire competition will happen on U.S. soil (most likely because the ratings for the original Ninja Warrior have been terrible in Japan). I’m keeping my fingers crossed they’ll also import some of the Ninja Warrior all-stars… and they won’t decrease the amount of time the guys spend shirtless.

Former member of The Real Housewives of New York Bethenny Frankel‘s talk show dreams may not have earned her a traditional fall launch, but she’s getting a six-week trial run this summer. Wendy Williams also got her start with such an arrangement, so there’s a chance Frankel won’t retire her couch once the six weeks are up. The show will be co-produced by Ellen DeGeneres.

Fox has ordered a pilot from Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence, Like Father is a semi-autobiographical comedy inspired by Lawrence’s own relationship with his father.

Usually, a TV development season has a few common themes. Last year, for example, NBC and ABC both had fairy tale projects, namely Once Upon a Time and Grimm. This year, we don’t have a common theme but a common source as ABC is developing a series based on Beauty and the Beast. Still, even though they’re both inspired by Beauty and the Beast since ABC’s version focuses on a Princess while the CW version will be based on the modern-day series about a New York District Attorney.

In ratings news, the second episode of Alcatrazlooks promising for Fox, losing a mere 9% of the viewers that checked out the premiere.

The finale of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills gave Bravo a strong Monday night, letting It’s a Brad Brad World reach a series high and helping Watch What Happens Live beat Conan in the ratings.

Listings

Live! with Kelly (syndicated) Check local listingsThe amazing Kristin Chenoweth will be spending the day in the guest-host’s chair while Alan Cumming will be on the guest-list,

Days of Our Lives (NBC) Check local listingsSonny makes Will an offer, one that Will doesn’t think he can accept. It sounds like this means more awkward conversations about coming out.

The Rosie Show (OWN) 6:00 PM ETRosie‘s interview with Kathy Griffin continues as Kathy discusses her new man and dealing with loneliness.

Nature (PBS) Check local listingsNature takes a look at Admiralty Island in Alaska, where the largest concentration of grizzly bears can be found in the world. There’s a delicate ecosystem at work where different elements depend on each other, a cycle that is thrown off by la Nina.

Nova (PBS) Check local listingsScientists use forensic technology to examine a piece of art that’s claimed to be a missing piece of Leonardo da Vinci could actually be what it claims to be.

Whitney (NBC) 8:00 PM ETWhen Whitney takes a job working for Roxanne, part of trying to make a good impression means winning over the woman who works for Roxanne’s rival (Kathy Griffin).

In Tahrir Square: 18 Days of Egypt’s Unfinished Revolution (HBO2) 8:00 PM ETHBO commemorates the anniversary of the Egyptian protests with a documentary that follows how the protests happened, day by day, until President Hosni Mubarek resigned.

Face Off (Syfy) 10:00 PM ETYes, it’s back. It’s time for the bodypainting challenge. Let’s hope all of the competitors can act like adults this time.

Hot in Cleveland (TV Land) 10:00 PM ETVictoria‘s daughter Emmy (Jennifer Love Hewitt) returns and this time she’s brought Melianie‘s son (Joe Jonas) with her — as well as an explanation why she’s wearing an engagement ring that’s probably going to make things a bit awkward at the house.

Chelsea Lately (E!) 11:00 PM ETRoss will be talking with Lisa VanderPump while Jo Koy, Sarah Colonna and Bill Bellamy will sit on the panel.

Watch What Happens Live (Bravo) 11:00 PM ETIt’s a Top Chef night as Andy is joined by Gail Simmons and Fabio Viviani.

What will you be watching tonight? Please share in the comments!

Tomorrow’s Preview

The Talk (CBS) Check local listingsTori Spelling will be joining the table tomorrow as a guest-host.

Days of Our Lives (NBC) Check local listingsI don’t see any mention of Will or Sonny, but Thursday’s show is a tribute to veterans as Jack deals with post-traumatic stress.